Chain-link for mining-machines.



PATENTE@ lJULY 28, 1908.

A IIB-UBL. CHAIN LINK IoR MINING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED DEU. 9, 1905. BENEWED DEU. 19,;907.

inviTED sTATEs DAVID BUEL, or coLiniBUs, onio.

cHArN-LINK Foa MINING-MACINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. l

- Patented July 28, 1908.

Application led December 9, 1905, Serial No. 291,058. RenewedDecember 19, 1907. Serial No. 407,215.

To allwlwm it may concern:

Be it known that I', DAviD BUEL, residing at Columbus', in the county'of Franklin and State fof Ohio,- have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Chain-Links for IVIinng-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to mining machines and more particularly to the bit-carrying chains which are employed in suoli machines for vthe cutting of coal or other relatively soft mineral deposits. Y

The object of myvinvention is to improve and strengthen the construction of such links, and toprovide an improved bearing for the cutter bits whereby the efliciency is greatly increased.

Generally speaking, the invention may be defined as consisting of the processes of producing such links andthe combinations of l selves provided with a bore 6 for the recep-V elements embodied in the claims hereto an'- nexed.

- Referring to the drawings z-Figurel represents a side elevation of a portion of a mining chain embodying my invention, some of la horizontal position and, for convenience of description, the parts will be referred to as if the chain were operated in Such position, although it -will be apparent that it may be operated in various positions. Each block is provided with a pair of eyes 4, for the reception of bosses 5, projecting inwardi y from the .side plates. These bosses have such an eX- teribr diameter that they fit Within the eyes andforin a bearing therewith and are themtion' of a rivet 7, whereby they are heldin operative relation to the block. Each block is provided with a projection S extending upwardly therefrom. This projection, in ,the

case of the great majority of the blocks, is

inclined from Vthe vertical, the amountl of such inclination varying with the different blocks,

whereby the upper edges 9 of the cutter bitsv l() overlap one another successively, as will appear more particularly from Fig. 2, 611.-,

abling the chain to make a wide c ut in the material being mined. Mining chains of this general construction are old inthe art, .but' v are universally made o f cast metal.l f In pro-- ducing the blocks of my chain, I first form a blank from a drop forging, said blank being similar to the block shown in the drawings,

but without eyes or aperture therein. 'The eyes are then formed in said blank by means of a suitable drill.

The aperture 1l for the shank of the cutter block from top to bottom thereof and in the direction of the inclination to be given the shank ofm the cutter bit, thereby producing a cylindrical bore the diameter of which is greater than the Width of the shorter face of the shank of the bit and less than the width of the longer face of the same, said 'shank being preferably substantially rectangular in. section. I then broach the cylindrical' bore, thereby providing an aperture therein that is substantially rectangular in section, f with curved recesses 12in the longer faces of l said aperture, vintermediate of the corners thereof. The aperture thus produced is only sufliciently larger than the shank of thejcutter bit to permit the same to be freely inserted and withdrawn from the same.' For clearness of illustration, however, the space between the walLlB of said aperture'and the forward face of the cutter bit is exaggerated.

Thebit is held in any desired position within the aperture, as by means of a set screw 14.

The corners of thev that the wider faces of the bitlshank will be 70 bit is formed as followsi-I first drill the the corners of the aperture.

'rounded or irregular 5 and, in such case, the rounded or irregular portions Will engage the sides of the aperture and will prevent the corners of the shank from fitting snugly into This Will result in more or less rotation of the bit around the axis of ,its shank, tending to throw 'the cut,- ting edge of the same out ofproper relation -to the cutting edges of the adj acent-bits and llalso causing distortion of the aperture.

vvill also tend to loosen the set screws, and thereby cause the bits themselves to drop out of their links and become lost in the mineral, Where they frequently break the machinery when the mineral is being screened. By my construction,v the corners of the shank are forced firmly into the corners of the aperture by the set screw, the curved recesses 12 accommodating any irregularities or roj ections on the side faces of the shank, `vvitfi the result that the bit Will be held firmly in proper voperative relation to the adjacent bit and ,Without the tendency to rotate and distort the aperture that is present` in prior devices of this kind,fand Without tendency to loosen the set screw. -In order to facilitate the proper application of .the drill to the block in forming the preliminary or cylindrical boretherethrough,

for the bit, I provide the upper or outer end of the block With a attened face 15 vvhich is normal to the direction of the proposed aperture. I t is then only necessary to apply the drill in a direction normal to the surface 15 to insure theaperture being given the proper direction.

' By the process and construction hereinbefore described, I am enabled to produce minin chains Which are not only stronger than t ose non7 in use, but which Will firmly maintain'the bits in proper relation to one another for operating upon the coal or other material being mined. While i have shown, in the embodiment of my invention herein disclosed, a bit shank that is substantially' rectangular in section and a correspondingly shaped aperture therefor, I d o not propose to be limited to such'V shape except as such limitation may be positively included in the claims hereto annexed or may be rendered necessary by the prior state of the art.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. The process of making links for mining machine chains which consists in forging a blank, forming in said blank an angular aperture for the shank of a cutter bit, and providing a longitudinal recess in one or more of the .aces of said aperture, substantially as speci- Itv 2. The rocess of making links for mining machine c ains which consists in forging a blank, forming in said blank an angular aperture for the shank ofa cutter bit, and providin said aperture with one or more longitudinairecesses, substantially as specified.

3. The rocess of making links for mining machine c ains which consists in forging the metal into a blank having its. outer face perpendicular to the direction of theproposed aperture, then drilling a hole perpendicular to said' face 'of greater diameter than the width of the shank of the bit, and" then broaching out the hole to form an aperture with one or more angular corners, substantially as specified. i

` 4. The rocess of making links for mining machine c ains which consists in forging the metal into a blank, drilling a circular hole in said blank of a diameter greater than the width of the tool or bit, and broaching out the said hole at diametrically opposite portions so as to form an aperture With one or more angular' corners and intermediate lon! gitudinal recesses, substantially as specified.

5. A link for mining machine chains com; prising a A forged block having eyes bored therein for the application thereto of the side plates, said block having an extension provided With an aperture for the reception of the cutter bit, said aperture having one or.

more angular corners and one or more longitudinal recesses therein, .substantially as specified.

6. A link for mining machine chains comprising a body having an aperture therein for the shank of a cutter bit, said aperture being oblong-in cross section, one or more of the longer faces of said aperturebeing provided With a recess extending longitudinally ofthe aperture, substantially as specified.

7. A link for mining machine chains comprising a body having an a erture therein for the reception of the shan of a cutter bit, said aperture having one or more angular corners and one or more longitudinal recesses, substantially as specified.

8. A link for mining machine chains comprising a body having an aperture therein for the reception of the shank of a cutter bit, said aperture being provided with one or more longitudinally extending recesses intermediate of the ends, the outer face of said body being normal to the axis of said aperture, substantially as specified.

9. A link for mining machine chains comprising a body having anaperture therein for the receptign of the shank of a cutter bit, said aperture having one or more longitudinal recesses therein, substantially as specified.

10. A link for mining machine chains, comprising a forged bodyghaving an aperture for los the receptlon or the shank of a cutter bit, l the diameter of said bore, thereby providing 10 said aperture having one or more longitudilon itudinal recesses-in said bore, substannal recesses therein, substantially as specified. tia y as specified.

11. The process of making links for mining In testimony whereof I aIiX my signature 5 machine.chains which consists in roducing in the presence of two Witnesses.

a blank with a circular bore and reaching DAVID BEL.

`out opposite portions of the bore, the Width Witnesses:

of the recesses formed by so breaching the J. B. HULLL opposite portions of thebore being less than v B. MW. BRooimTT. 

